Thursday, May 27, 2010

If I had to compare my cooking to a Food Network star, it would most definitely be Paula Deen! She is my cooking queen! I love her! I want her to be my mother-in-law! If I could go eat at anyone's house, it would be hers! Just thinking about it makes me hungry!
For my first wedding anniversary my sweetheart surprised me with a trip to Savannah! We went just so we could go eat at the Lady and Sons, Paula's restaurant! If ever I thought I had died and gone to heaven this was it! The food was some kind of yummy! If you ever make it to Savannah, make sure you try it out!

Since this week's Share a Spoon, hosted by my sister, is comfort food for The Duck, I'm honoring my cooking queen with one of my favorite casseroles!

This casserole has been in my family for YEARS! It is my mother's BFF's!

I start off by defrosting the broccoli. I usually place the broccoli in a colander and run hot water over it until it's thawed.

Next I saute the onion in one tablespoon of the butter. (Comfort food here folks)! If you have something against butter you can substitute olive oil here if you'd like!

In a large bowl combine the broccoli, sauteed onion, cheese, cream of mushroom soup, eggs, mayo, and salt/pepper. Pour into a greased baking/casserole dish.

Next melt the remaining butter (in a microwave safe bowl) in the microwave. It only takes about 30 seconds. Maybe a little longer depending on your microwave.

I use a Ziploc bag to crumble the Ritz crackers. Once the crackers are crumbled to your liking, add the melted butter right in the plastic bag. Shake until the crumbled crackers are completely coated with the butter. Sprinkle right from the bag to the casserole!

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. (Once the crackers are golden brown and the the casserole is bubbling around the edges it's done)! Yum-O!

From left to right. . . first up Charlee Bugs (aka demon dog or momma dog), in the middle is Loona (aka Looloos, Bitzee or lil'bit), and the one trying to hide is Krickett (aka my handsome devil)! These are my chi babies! I just LOVE this picture! They love to play fight!

I love that Charlee's eyes are red in this picture and it makes her look crazy! It just wouldn't be the same without the red demon eyes! She's actually a real sweetheart, unless you're trying to touch her stomach or dry her off after a bath. Then she turns into the monster pictured above!

Bitzee is the EXACT opposite of this picture. Here she looks all timid and scared of Charlee. But she's usually the one reeking havoc on all the other dogs! She terrorizes Gizmo, not pictured, my Lhasa Apso. In fact, she terrorizes everyone! (Especially my MIL)! She's such a little turd! She was the runt and she only weighs around 2 lbs. She's wittle and we wove her! She rules the roost!

Krickett, the one with his head down, trying to hide, is showing his true colors! He's a lover not a fighter! He's always trying to be the peace maker between Charlee and Bitzee! He is the most handsome Chihuahua I have ever seen! This picture does not do him justice!

I come from a family of Chihuahua owners! My parents have 2, my oldest sister has 4, my other sister has 1, and I of course have 3! We LOVE our Chihuahuas!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Happy Hump Day Truth Seekers! I'm not sure which I'm more excited about, Hillbilly Hump Day or my four day weekend coming up? Unfortunately I hit a snafu with my pictures. The ones I took with my digital camera are still on my camera! The camera cord seems to have been "misplaced" in the move. Hopefully that means it's just in one of the countless boxes I have in storage. (That's probably the one thing I hate most about living with Laura, (MIL), all of my stuff is in storage). So I improvised! I took some new pictures with my blackberry! These pictures are not what I wanted to share with my seekers, but they will do! They are sure to please! I could not, would not, leave my seekers hanging! It's our first HHD together! Yeehaw!

First up. . . the hillbilly's solution to a doggy cat door!

Yes, I know, it's just a window. But look a little closer. . . .

Can you see it? Look again. . . real close. . . .

Yes! It's a hole in the KITCHEN window and the cat uses it like a doggy door! I tell no lies here seekers! I almost had a picture of Petee, the cat, sitting on the ledge. But the little booger jumped the moment I lifted the camera (phone). Now, if you go back and look at the first picture, you can see the nasty cat tracks up the side of the house! I tried telling you guys, HILLBILLIES! Who else keeps a huge ass whole broken window (in the KITCHEN) for the cat to climb in and out of? Seriously? We live in Riverside people, we have RATS and Palmetto Bugs (aka cockroaches)! It's just wrong! Wrong I tell you!

So, in keeping with the broken window theme, the next picture comes to us courtesy of my son, Justin! He actually ventured into the hillbilly's back yard to take this one. He is one brave soul! I owe him one for this!

Warning. . .the next picture contains material that is graphic in nature! Viewer discretion is advised!

That is NOT an open window! No folks, that is a BROKEN window! Justin says the "thing" in the window is a mattress? I'm going to have to take is word for it! From what he says, and from what I can see, there appears to be bite marks all over the mattress. I don't think I want to know? Yes, even I have lines I will not cross! It's Hillbilly Hump Day, not Hump the Hillbilly Day!

The pictures I took with my digital camera were of the back yard! Good times! I promise I will save them and share them at a later date.

Well there you have it, my first HHD! I hope it lived up to the hype and I hope everyone loved the pictures! If you have hillbilly neighbors, please join in the fun! Share your favorite hillbilly moments (or pictures)! Blogging about mine has become very therapeutic for me! I don't want to stab them in the eye with my fork anymore! Nope, I just want to grab my camera and say, "hold that pose for me"!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

I will be introducing Hillbilly Hump Day! (Thanks to Kenna for the name idea)! I was trying to come up with a day to post about my trashy oh-so-lovely neighbors! William suggested Hillbilly Fridays. But since most of the fun stuff (action) happens over the weekend, I didn't want to wait all week before I posted about the weekend's events. Plus we all need something to help get us through the week, right? So I've decided to bring my truth seekers an episode of "Hillbilly Hump Day" right smack dab in the middle of the week! I'm very excited about this! I even have pictures to share. . . . I snuck over to the fence while they were gone and snapped a few shots of their backyard! I promise, they will not disappoint! I'm hoping maybe Justin can get some pictures of the hillbillies themselves!

You have no idea how tickled I am over this! It's almost sad and pathetic how much enjoyment I'm getting out of this. My blogging friend Gayle said she'd cry if she had to live next to neighbors like this. I told her I have to laugh to keep from crying. Plus, I'm learning to really appreciate the small things in life and find happiness where ever I can! They make me appreciate my life and all that I have a little more each day! Call me crazy, or wrong, or whatever, but it makes me happy to talk smack about the hillbillies! I honestly never could have imagined I would ever end up living so close to such craziness! They obviously don't care what others think, so I have no problems sharing my entertainment with all of you! (Besides, it's not like there's really that many peeps reading my blog anyway)! Yep, no guilt here whatsoever! Does that make me a bad person? Yeah, I really could care less!

So be sure to stop by on Wednesday, Hillbilly Hump Day, for a laugh, maybe a few tears, and definitely some good ol' fashion hillbilly trash talking!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

My sister, Brandee, over at Think Tank Momma , got me started with this blogging business!

The majority of my followers are her friends! So most of you already know she hosts Share a Spoon on her blog every Thursday now. Since I suggested this weeks' theme, Grill it up, I thought I should join in on the fun!

We recently purchased a grill. Nothing fancy. . . in fact we bought it at a garage sale! We were on our way to go look at grills when we drove past this guy having a garage sale and there it was. Almost as if fate intervened! We cookout every weekend now! The best part is my sweetheart does most of the work! I prep the food and make the sides and he stands outside in the heat and does the dirty work! (Just as it should be)! Added bonus, Justin does the dishes!

So last weekend we made kabobs! They turned out FANFREAKINGTASTIC! I wish I had taken pictures! I didn't though, I'm a slacker, what can I say! But here's a list of what we had. . .

We used the Grill Mates Hawaiian Luau like a dry rub on the chicken on shrimp! It was delicious! It has a kick to it so be prepared!

I used this Ginger Pear dressing along with the chopped fresh mint on the squash, zucchini, green peppers, and mini purple onions. (This was the first time I've ever even seen mini purple onions)! They are the cutest things ever! A little bigger than a pearl onion and easier to peel! They were absolutely perfect for kabobs and grilling! I found them right in the regular grocery store (Publix, where shopping is a pleasure)! The Ginger Pear dressing was something my mother-in-law had in the pantry, it turned out to be some kind of yumminess!

I used the worcestershire sauce on the baby bellas! If you're not a fan of mushrooms, you might want to go ahead and try this trick! Justin HATES mushrooms and even he liked them cooked this way!

The fresh pineapple needed NOTHING! It was perfect just the way it was. I bought a fresh pineapple and peeled/chopped it up myself. It's pretty easy, as long as you have a good sharp knife. If not, you can go ahead and get the pineapple that's pre-peeled and already chopped up.

I wrapped the fresh corn on the cob in tinfoil and drizzled it with olive oil, and then salt and peppered it. William cooked it right on the grill next to the kabobs. When it was done, I added a little butter and it was . . . . HEAVEN! I love fresh corn on the cob!

I skewered the chicken, onions, and peppers together, because they have the same cooking time. Then the squash, zucchini, baby bellas, and pineapple together. I also made the shrimp ones with pineapple. I'm not positive on the cooking time. . . cause the sweetheart does that part? I'd say about 10-15 minutes on the chicken ones. A little less on the shrimp ones (once they turn pink they're done). It did take longer on the squash than we thought. . . so go ahead and get those ones on early with the chicken ones.

The whole family loved this grill out! It's Thursday and we're still talking about how yummy everything was! I hope you'll try it out! Please feel free to share your favorites and link up with my sista. . . .

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The hillbillies never cease to annoy amaze me! Just as I was thinking to myself, man the hillbillies sure have been quiet, they go and have a screaming match in the front yard. Technically it's our back yard and their front yard, but outside nonetheless! Justin and I had just come home from taking his girlfriend, Emma, home when we heard this screeching sound. I thought a dog had been run over or something. Justin shook his head and said "it's just the hillbillies"! And then the f-bombs started and the name calling!

This time it was the daughters. . . fighting over a purse. (I'm thinking we should start selling seats and popping popcorn). It's truly entertaining! I can see it now, come to the Usina's and observe the hillbillies in their natural environment! Get up close and personal with them in the wild!

I guess the boyfriends have been banished from the house. Over the weekend we caught bf #2 hiding outside in the back yard behind a tree! He waved to us, like it was completely "normal" to be crouching down behind a tree hiding! I couldn't help but laugh out loud! Then he put his finger over his mouth and said shhhh! Yes, definitely entertaining!

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures of the wild and crazy hillbilly neighbors!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Do you have a princess in your life? I do, several in fact! I love my nieces! Kenna is all grown up now, but there's Kambree, Mady, Amberlee, and Khylee. I love to spoil them (when I'm not broke, which is most of the time)! Okay, so I dream about spoiling them! It's the same difference.

Anyway, I found this blog and there's a free tutu giveaway. These tutus are so stinking cute I can't stand it! I'm hoping to win one! Go check them out!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

I love love love olives. Black, green, small, medium, large, jumbo, any and every variety. I've never met an olive I didn't like. (The same goes for pickles). I especially like to get the fresh ones from the market! Yum-O! They're great for snacking and salads! My husband loves them too! They're a staple in our house.

The one thing that has always bothered me about black olives is the can they come in! Typically we don't have left-over olives, but when we do, it's a pain in the neck trying to find a container to put them in. My mother-in-law will mix them in with her green olives. Um, seriously? That's just wrong I tell you! (That's like mixing cookies in the cookie jar or fruity candies with the chocolates). I just don't do these things in my world. I'm very funny about my foods tasting like they're suppose too. I'm OCD that way!

So I found a solution. . . . at least for the olives!

They have these at Publix now! I've been carry around a coupon waiting for them to come out. The coupon came from the Lindsay website, it was B1G1! I don't think they have that coupon anymore, but you can print one for $1.00 off. Then when I got them home there was another coupon under the cap! (We're super fond of the coupons here at the Usina household)!

Saturday, May 15, 2010

When I was little, there was nothing cooler to me than my sisters. I wanted to be just like them! I wanted to do everything that they did, be anywhere that they were, and do just what they were doing! Unfortunately I was a total spoiled rotten brat. (Yes, tis true)! When I was born they wanted a little brother. (As luck would have it, their wish came true, but it came true after me)! I'd be willing to bet that both of them would gladly take another me over a brother any day now!

Today, my sisters are my very best friends! I love them to pieces. I rarely tell them that. I have serious issues from always being the brat tag-along sister. But truth be told I love and admire them so much. They are wonderful women. Great wives and amazing mothers. I'm all grown up, and I still want to be just like them.

I'm extremely close to my sister Brandee and her family. (Brooke and I are close, but she's in Utah and this blog is more about Brandee anyways). I don't get to have my own children, but because Brandee has always "shared" her children with me, I almost feel like a mother. I think in a way, being Aunt Buffee, prepared me for step-motherhood. Brandee and her husband, Adrien, have really been there for me these past few years. When I had my hysterectomy, she was the one to stay with me in the hospital that first night. After sitting in the hospital ALL day, she stayed up ALL night in the hospital with me. Literally ALL night. And I guess I should really say for me, not with me, because I was sleeping. (or trying)! I was on a pump for my pain medicine. Every 5 minutes I was able to push the button that administered my pain meds. Brandee sat up and pressed that button for me ALL night. That is love! (I should also mention Brandee HATES hospitals). She's only been in the hospital to give birth.

Being best friends with your sisters is kind of like always having a piece of your childhood with you! Your memories are their memories! As different as we are, we're also very much alike! We have similar interests, stories, jokes, and anything and everything you can think of! We are forever linked. I can't think of a single person on earth to be better friends with than my sisters! I love them more than words can describe.

So here's to my sister, Brandee, on her birthday, my family by birth, but my friend by choice! I love you! I admire you! I think the world of you! Thanks for everything that you do for me! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (I really enjoyed our day together yesterday)!

Friday, May 14, 2010

I love Lady Gaga. I think she's awesome. She marches to the beat of her own tune! I like that in a person. There's the way people do things, and then there's Buffee's way. Thinking outside of the box doesn't even come close! I'm usually over in my very own bubble, in Buffee's land somewhere! I tend to do before thinking and then try not to worry later! My husband, son, and mother-in-law are all much like that too! That's why we call ourselves "the misfits" or "the lunchroom leftovers"! You know, the people that don't appear to go together but somehow just fit perfectly! That's my family! I wouldn't have it any other way!

So, because I'm googoo for GaGa, everyone keeps telling me about this Greyson kid. I finally got a chance to check him out and OMG! He's worth watching. He's out of this world! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=bxDlC7YV5is

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

So about 3 months ago we moved to Riverside. For those of you that aren't familiar with Jacksonville, FL, it's a historical district. It's a very charming and quaint neighborhood. Beautiful old homes and buildings. It’s a wonderful place to live. We love everything about it. Everything BUT our hillbilly neighbors!

Have you seen the movie Overboard, with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn? You know the house that he moves her into? Yes, that’s what my neighbors place looks like. At least it did before the city cited them and forced them to clean it up! (I know you’re probably wondering why in the world would we move in next to them, but remember, we live with my mother-in-law). So the hillbillies provide us with endless stories and countless hours of entertainment. Before you judge me for judging them read on. . . .

They’re honest to goodness something right off of The Jerry Springer or Maury show. The dad is “disabled” (he hurt his back working or something). The mom is an alcoholic who can’t hold a job and sleeps around. The parents are always fighting. Seriously, the whole neighborhood can hear them screaming from inside their house. The kind of fighting where the children go outside so the parents can fight it out. Just absolute craziness. They have 4 children teenagers. I think their ages range from 11-18. (Boy, girl, girl, boy). The kids all have trash mouths and smoke pot. I don’t know if any of them even go to school. HILLBILLIES!

Well a couple of weeks ago the oldest daughter’s boyfriends (yes, there are two of them), were fighting in the middle of the street. It was about midnight and they’re yelling and pushing each other, pulling off their shirts and getting all up in each other’s faces screaming. Apparently she had a boyfriend and he went to jail. (For what I have no idea, I can only imagine)! I guess while bf #1 was sitting in jail, she decided to go and get herself bf #2. In the mean time, bf #1 got out of jail and was none too happy! So he decided he was going to fight for his woman. This went on for about 30 minutes, in the middle of the street at midnight. (No we did not call the cops, cause homeboy just got out of JAIL, for God only knows what)? And I didn’t want him coming back with a gun and shooting us!

So to the good stuff. . . . yes there’s more! Last night we hear what we thought was dad yelling at mom again. But we were wrong! It was dad, but he was yelling at the daughter! She’s pregnant! She’s white and both the boyfriends are black. All I could think was she's going to be on an episode of Who’s my baby daddy??? on the Maury show! (Yes, I am a terrible person and I’m okay with that)! If you had to live next to them, you’d be laughing too!

So if you have great neighbors, or even just quiet ones, bake them some cookies or something and thank them for NOT being HILLBILLIES!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

It's mothers day, a day I usually hate. (Hate a strong word, maybe it's not the word I'm looking for here). I guess this year is different now that I've actually had my hysterectomy and people can stop saying, "your time will come" or "maybe next year" and all that other CRAP they've always said. When you're not a "real" mother, it's one of those days you dread, like Valentine's Day for all the singletons. A day when it's just better to stay in bed, maybe have lots of sex, just because you can, and call it a day! But this mother's day was different for me. I even cried, tears of happiness!

My (step) son, Justin, got me my first ever mother's day card! (((gushing))) It was just a card, but it meant the world to me. He did it all on his own. He even walked to the store and bought the card with his own money. I can't even begin to describe how that feels. It was just the validation I needed. To me it said, yeah, I love you Buffee, and you're doing the best job you can as my (step) mom! So for all the "children" out there. . . . tell the women in your life, the mothers, or the motherly influences in your life, how much you love them. It will mean the world to them. A present isn't necessary. . . . the gift is truly in the thought. Just knowing you're appreciated and loved is the best present ever!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

One year ago today I started my life over again. No, not literally, but in a sense yes, I did. I had a hysterectomy at the age of 33. I've never had any children, so it was definitely life changing. For years I struggled with Endometriosis and Ovarian Cysts. After seeing 2 different infertility specialists who both said it would be next to impossible for me to have a baby, I said the heck with this and opted for a hysterectomy. Not only because I couldn't have children, but I was also in so much pain it was ridiculous. I was addicted to pain pills. I was just existing, not really living anymore.

May 4th, 2009. . . . I woke in the recovery room and I thought I just made the biggest mistake of my life. I was in so much pain, I wanted to die. I've had lots of surgeries throughout my life, including several "female" surgeries, but nothing as painful as this. Looking back on it now, I'm sure that the emotional aspect of the surgery played a significant role. I wasn't just losing my uterus, no, I was losing a piece of myself. A lifelong dream of becoming a mother. If I could describe it in a way that might make sense to other people, I would say it felt like my life was derailed. The train I was on, crashed, and the track was now forever changed. I was raised in a very conservative religious home. My biggest goal in life was to grow up, get married, and have a family. That's what you did. That's what everyone I know did. (With a few exceptions, obviously). I know nowadays things are different, women don't have to have families, and so many are career oriented. But that wasn't what I wanted. Nope, I was one of the girls who wanted 6 kids growing up. I wanted to be the PTA mom, and homeroom mother, the dugout mom, etc. I would have been so happy with Michelle Duggar's life! (Shhh, don't tell anyone I said that)!

Flash forward 3 weeks after my surgery. . . . I was sitting on my couch trying to eat my dinner when my husband wouldn't stop talking. I couldn't even tell you what he was talking about, all I can tell you is that it was driving me CRAZY! I looked at him and told him "will you please shutthefuckup"? His response was "what the hell is wrong with you"? To that my reply was, "I seriously want to stab you in the eye with my fork." (And I did, want to stab him in the eye with my fork)! It was at that moment I knew I would need to be medicated! (I can't take hormones, because the endo could come back). So instead I take a "mood stabilizer"! It is my miracle drug. It allows me to live life among the stupid! To control my otherwise out-of-control emotions! Occasionally I still want to stab someone in the eye with my fork, but my blood doesn't feel like it's boiling anymore. I can contain myself! Mostly. . .

Today. . . . I'm living life one day at a time. I'm trying to focus on what I do have and love my life for what it is. I have a husband who loves me for me. We have a great relationship. We've been through some really hard times. But when it's all said and done, we're perfect for each other. Together we're "raising" his 16 year old son, Justin. Justin moved in with us 4 weeks after my hysterectomy. (I'm almost positive he thinks I'm crazy)! I try my best at the whole stepmother thing. Luckily for me his bio mom plays no role in our lives. We have 4 dogs. Gizmo, my 10 yr old Lhasa Apso and 3 Chihuahuas, Charlee 3yrs old, Krickett and Bitzee, both almost 2 yrs old. It's definitely been a journey of self discovery. We live with William's mother, Laura, in her house in Riverside. That's a post all in and of it's self! So in my blog you'll hear about my life being a woman without a uterus, a wife, a stepmother, a daughter-in-law trying not to kill the crazy lady I live with, a dog lover, and many many more topics that come to my crazy mind! Just me being me!

Take My Truth with You

About Me

I'm new to this whole blogging world, but excited to get started. I'm 33 and married to the perfect man (for me)! I have a 16 year old stepson, Justin. I can't have children of my own, so I have 4, yes FOUR, dogs! They are my babies! We call ourselves the misfits! We belong together! We love to have fun and spend time together laughing about anything and everything.